Outside Hours Care

Holiday program; 

Hope to see you there! Full version is located on the front page of the school website.

Please note: Wednesday 7/4 , Tuesday 13/4 and Thursday 15/4, are  fully booked. 

Cooking with Children

The OSHC acknowledges the value of offering experiences that develop children’s life skills as part of the program including food preparation and cooking experiences.  The service also recognises that children’s competence and skill level with food preparation and cooking activities will vary therefore effective risk assessment and management procedures are implemented to ensure children’s safety.

Cooking experiences are regularly provided as part of the service program to enhance children’s life skills and provide an opportunity to promote healthy eating. Children who choose to cook, also share there meal with the rest of the OSHC children and families.

When planning cooking experiences for the program, educators ensure healthy food options are considered as first preference with occasional foods being kept to a minimum.

Cooking experiences have a completed risk assessment conducted prior to implementing the experience.  Such an assessment consider as a minimum:

The risk benefit analysis; Ages of the children participating; Number of children participating; Ingredients and allergies; Cooking utensils available; Exposure to extreme heat; Hygiene; and Food preparation practices.

Educators talk extensively with children about healthy eating and how vital it is for strong bones and overall wellbeing. Sugar intake is monitored.

“Swap outs” are a regular. For example, less flour and sugar, more rolled oats/ bran, and natural sweeteners such as natural maple syrup and/or sultanas. “The children also enjoy and look forward to participating in cooking experiences that they have organised. They devise a shopping list of ingredients and set a date.

“We also have a vegetable garden just outside the OSHC service which will be replenished with more vegetable and herbs from the Woolworths Discovery Program. This will help supply our service with fresh herbs and hopefully soon, some vegetables. The children love to help with picking and harvesting the herbs and vegetables, and this often leads to positive discussions about the smell, taste and texture of freshly picked ingredients.

Activities based on experiences with growing and cooking also encourage the development of other skills like science skills and interests in sustainability, math skills like counting and measuring and fine motor skills through mixing and chopping.

Ultimately, the OSHC service aims to promote children’s lifelong healthy eating habits. This also incorporates and harnesses routines such as making breakfast. Here are photos of prospective Master Chefs!

Accounts are now out and due Friday 26/3. Should you have any queries then please email melissa.asmar1@gmail.com. The accounts cover weeks 7&8 of Term 1. Accounts are emaileddirectly to a dedicated family email.  If an email is not available then accounts are distributed via the office which are then handed to children by their class room teacher. If you do not receive your account please contact Melissa. Cash is NOT to be left at the office but handed directly to staff where a receipt will be issued. Cheques are also accepted however the most preferred way is via a direct transfer to the St Finbar’s OSHC bank account (St Finbar’s Outside School Hours Care BSB: 083 347A/c: 55055 9263. Please include your surname and child’s name in the Ref area). Thank you in advance.

Have families confirmed their income?

As part of Child Care Subsidy balancing, families need to confirm their income.

For the 2018–19 financial year families need to do this by 31 March 2021.

The Department extended this deadline from 30 June 2020 to 31 March 2021 because of COVID-19.

Services Australia has sent letters to families last week reminding families to confirm their 2018-2019 income.

If families don’t confirm their income by 31 March 2021 their CCS will stop. This means the OSHC will need to charge families full fees when they use child care.

If families confirm their income after 31 March, their CCS can start again but it won’t be back paid. 

There's also a fact sheet to help families understand the process on the Departments website. If families have questions, please click on the link to Services Australia.

The OSHC will be open from 1.45pm - 6pm for the last day of Term 1 to accommodate for early finish. Bookings are essential for after care. Please email Melissa in advance .The regular charge of $19.50 will apply and attract Child care subsidy. Snack will be served at the regular time of 3.45pm.